Hi Gordon and everyone!
Finally I upgraded from Panasonic FZ30 to a DSLR camera! I was thinking about the big brands (Nikon,Canon) but finally I ended up totally different. I bought an Olympus E400 body with a Sigma 18-55mm lens. It was in the shop as a kit, and the price was 499 US dollars, which is quite good in Hungary, because the "original" kit with the Zuiko lens costs around 700 US dollars.

I would personally never let the MP count determine the field of my camera-choices. (except when the Phase One 39MP backs drop from 30.000$ to 500$..lol)

There are no 10MP+ cameras I can afford, that gives me 1/500sec flash-sync for example - thus preventing me from freezing motion when I use the flash. They are all 1/200 or 1/250 at best. There are several 6MP DSLRs I can afford, that gives me 1/500sec flash-sync.

To me, that is a huge loss as I will more often want flash-illuminated pictures of moving objects, than I want to have movie-sized printouts of my pictures.

The difference between 6 and 10MP is very small, but the difference in flash -sync is huge.

If you can afford an external flashgun, you should be able to achieve higher sync speeds. On the D80, in the menu turn on Auto FP and you can get upto 1/4000. However this does add to the cost of the system, but having an external flashgun adds to the creativity of photography.

you guys should really try out the oly 510, its fantastic. and this is not my 510 fanboyism, i tried numerous cameras before settling on the 510. initially i was going to go for the 400d, and then as i was just about to buy it, i decided to do more research and then decided i wanted an A100, and then just as i was about to buy THAT, i went out and shot with the 510 and the A100 and the 510 just floored me.

When buying a new camera, you need to remember that the glass available really can effect your image quality aswell.

This is why that when I upgrade I am pretty certain that I will get a Nikon, probably a D40/D60, but because in the future I will be able to get the 18-200mm VR when I have the extra money which I have my heart set on, because the lens seems great quality and is extremely practical, which is very important to me.

If I brought a Canon, I would be stuck as to what lens / lenses to buy, because the sigma and tamron counterparts do not have VR/IS.

I know that you shouldn't base completely on the glass, eg, you will get a 18 - 200mm VR when you have a small budget which will only mean you can afford a used D40 and your really old unbranded memory cards!

When looking at a telephoto option, IMO Nikon have the better option for me too, because both Canons 55-250mm and 70-300mm don't have internal focusing, which I need because I am a regular user of the polarizing filter, where as the 70-300mm VR does!

So It all depends on what type of photography you're into. Maybe you like portraiture and you may get an EOS 40D and some nice f/2.8 lenses and still get good image quality, and you have the wireless transfere when in a studio. Ok, the 40D isn't budget, but you get my idea, because if you do have a portrait studio, this is probably one of your options.

Reading your reply, it seemed to me that you are very delirious about the 18-200 VR.

I agree that this lens is a great lens. But, to be honest, you can´t expect it to be the "dreamlens" which saves all problems.....

For a zoomlens with such a great factor (11x), it´s remarkable, and the best there is. But in comparing with other lenses which have only a part of the focal distance range, it has something to give. It is good, but not the best! That is why many buy a combination of two lenses, like the 18-70&70-300 or 18-55&55-200. So, ask yourself some questions.
Is IQ more important than changing lenses (more or less) all the time? is only one of it.

It cant be better than a dedicated prime lens, its not as fast as a lens that is used for wider angles, other lenses are not as heavy, and most of all, some cameras have built in IS, and....... the 18-200 is expensive.

One thing that put me off Nikon and Canon is that if you want to get the super dooper lenses they offer, its bloody heavy. And Im thinking of going Canon because of one particular lens (the 24 - 105mm) because of the constant f/4 avaliable to it.... And the quality glass....

Having said that, the 18-200 is a great MULTI-purpose lens, but not entirely a lens that is suited for everything. I've used that lens, and to be honest, not as wonderfull as a dedicated telephoto, and not as good as a dedicated wide or prime...